Maria Auxiliadora

María, 50 years old, is from the city of Playas and lives in a common law marriage. Her husband makes a living as a carpenter and together they have a 16-year-old daughter who studies at the public school. María tells us that six years ago she opened a store since she had a daughter with special needs and needed additional income for the medical bills. At first, it was a very small store and she had very little of everything.

Since she needed to increase her sales, she became familiar with D-Miro communal bank. The loans that they have granted have allowed her to increase her business. Currently, in addition to the store, she manages a stationary store. She opens at 7 in the morning until 10 at night every day. When she can't work, her niece helps. She tells us that her area has thieves but she has not had any problems so far. During the interview, we wanted to meet her daughter but she told us that her body did not respond to the treatment and, sadly, she passed away. Now her business has been a refuge because it helps her to clear her mind. With this loan, she wants to stock her business by purchasing supplies, a refrigerator, and other items. Her dream is to have a large store with a more spacious home. As for her family, she continues to live in a union with her spouse and her other daughter.

Additional Information

About Banco D-MIRO

Banco D-MIRO is a microfinance institution that serves the most vulnerable sectors of Ecuador’s economy. It offers very small loan sizes without requiring collateral, expanding access to borrowers who would not otherwise be able to access capital to start and grow their own businesses. It also specifically targets borrowers who are excluded from formal financial systems due to race, ethnicity, gender, disability or illness.